Punch press and the like



Oct. 30, 1951 REESE 2,572,949

PUNCH PRESS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 30, 1947 v 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Oct. 30, 1951 K. E. REESE PUNCH PRESS AND THE LIKE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Jan. 50, 1947 Patented Oct. 30} 1951 UNITED- RAIENI. ass-sizes:

2,5729 Poison-amass ANDTTHEjLIKE KennethfEaReese, ElkhattgiInd. Application-January'30, imgsen rno. v725,352

[Claims-z (01. 164-103) counteracting or counterbalancingmechanism and leg structure or base frame of the present invention may be em-ployed for'all similar-pur poses within- -the scope of the 'broaderaspectsof the'presentinvention.-

Inprior'devices-of the sort-to which 'the'ypres ent invention particularly appertai ns tilting" of the tilting or pivoted frame about its'pivotal support on the main base=-frame*h as been aecom pli'shed only I withdifficultyanddanger to the operator. Worm and rack mechanisms, -hydraulic balancing mechanism for the II tiltingpr'pivoted frame-of apparatus of the class.;described, which will facilitate I tilting or inclining" of th pi'voted frame and eliminate the possibility of injury to theoperator ininclining or tilting-the frame-t its different positions. 7

Another object "of the' invention' is to provide an improved leg or base frame structure; *alscra new andLadVantageous combination-"-ofthe-coun Eurther objects ;andaadvantages of; the invem tionwill'be apparent from the following detailed description;- taken in connection with the-accentpanying'drawings in-which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a punch pressgembodying tl 1e--p resent invention; showing thetilting framein vertical position in fulI 'lines and in one-*of its inclined positions in--; dotted lines;-

Figure 52 is arear elevational view of the punch press shown' in' Figure 1'; I

Figure- 3 is an enlargedfragmentaryside eIe vationar view showing indetail the:pivota1' mounting of the tilting frame on-the main base frame, suitable meansgfor locking the tilting frame m its various inclined-"positions and the tel-acting or counterbalancing mechanism-with the leg or base framestructurer I Another object'of the inventiomis-to *provide air-counteracting or counterbalan'cing mechanism and an improved leg or base frame structure-with w-h'ich -the wormand rack, hydraulic cylinders upper portion" of the counteracting I or "counterbalancingmechanism;

Figure lis a; fragmentary horizontal detail section taken onythe line 4--4 of Figures v1;

Figure-5 is-a fragmentary detail section taken on the 'line 5 5 of Figure 3; I

Figure 6 isa' fragrnentary detail section takenon the line: 6 -6of Figure 3; and

Figure-7 "is: a fragmentary detail section taken on the'line- 'I'lof*Fig1 1re l.

Referring now to: the drawings, the punch press selected-for illustration comprises a; main base frame I having opposite legs Or?SidS"2,2 anda tilting frame 3.,

The frame 3 h'as, forexample, opposite sides 4", kpivoted at 5;.. 5't0- the opposite legs orsides 2, 2, of-the'frame-l. The frame 3 has; for example; a bedfiprovidedwith' a bolsterplate 1. Thesides ofthejframeq may be connected; for example; by an integral connecting web 8, although this and the other features described in detailabove may vary.

The crankshaft 9 is suitably journaled in-the upper forwardly overhanging ends of the sides or-the'rmme 3-. The shaft'QhaS; for-example, an eccentric-Knot showmwhichactuates a pitman i0 'toimpartreciprocatory ovement to the ram or'h'older l l which carries thepunchor other tool employed'by the press; The'rotatingpowermem ber may be in the form of a flywheel l2jmoi1nted on the crankshaft 9, The flywheel I2 maybe drivemby a suitable belt, or the'shaft' 9 jmay be driven otherwise as desired;

Each side'or leg 2 ofthe base frame l is'preferg I ably in the form of a unitary'casting having 'a;

horizontal portion' I 3 near'its lower end; and "integral upwardly converging arms I 4 connected-- at the top- 'at'li. Thebottom of 'eachleg 'Z has; feet! 6- adapted to rest on '-the floor -indicated at- Tiltingmovement or angular adjustment-z outer surface of which may be flush with the outer 7 surface of the leg. The inner surfaces of the upper portions l5 of the legs 2 have integral rounded flanges 22 which form, as continuations of the hollow interiors of the'tubular sections 2|, channels 22 which are curved upwardly to the upper ends of the legs 2.

A coiled compression spring 23 is positioned within each tubular section 2! and extends upwardly Within the channels 22'. Operating slidingly within each channel 22 and cooperating with the upper ends of the springs 23 are plugs 24. Each plug 24 has a part 25 which extends through and operates slidingly in a slot 26 between the inner ends of the flanges 22 or in the inner sides of the tubular spring channels. The inwardly extending parts 25 of the plugs 24 are secured-to the adjacent sides of the frame 3, for example, by screws or bolts 26 or other fastening means. If desired, the'parts 25 may, within the scope of the present invention, be formed integral'with the frame 3. r

.The lower ends of the tubular sections 2| may have externally accessible screws 21 threaded therethrough and provided with internal abutments abutting the lower ends of the springs 23. By the simple expedient of turning these screws 21, the counteracting or counterbalancing actionof the springs 23 may be adjusted as desired.

The upper or outer end of each channel 22 is provided with acap plate 28 fastened to the upper end of the legs 2 by screws or bolts 29. The plugs 24 are disposed beneath the cap plates 28 so that these plates act as stops for limiting outward movement of the plugs 24, and thereby angular movement of the frame 3 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivots 5.

In operation, the springs 23 act to counteract or counterbalance the weight of the tilting frame 3 whenever the nuts 20 are released to permit tilting or inclining this frame. With the nuts 20 or other locking means released, the frame 3 may be tilted or inclined in a clockwise direction from its vertical position shown in full lines in Figure 1, by exerting just enough force to overcome the action of the springs 23. g p The springs 23 hold the frame 3 in vertical position when the locking nuts 20 are released. They not only eliminate hazards to the operator in tilting the frame 3 to-different angular positions, but they also eliminate the necessity for worm and rack, hydraulic cylinders and pistons, and other-forms of inclining mechanisms heretofore required. When the nuts 20 are released and the frame 3 is swung in a clockwise direction about the pivots 5 and locked in such. position by tightening the nuts 20, the springs 23 are complished easily and without danger of injury to the operator.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be expressly understood that such drawings and the accompanying specification are not to be construed as a definition of the limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a main base frame, a tilting frame pivoted on said base frame for inclining movement to different angular positions, a spring channel in said base frame, a plug slidable in said channel and having a part which extends through compressed. When the nuts 20 are again released f and operates slidingly in a slot in the wall of said channel and is connected to the tilting frame, a coiled compression spring disposed in said channel and acting against said plug, and a cap plate fastened to said base frame and closing the adjacent end of said channel outwardlyof said plug whereby to form a stop for limiting outward movement of the plug and thereby angular movement of the tilting frame.

2. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a main base frame, a tilting frame pivot= ed on said base frame for inclining movement to different angular positions, a spring channel in said base frame, a plug slidable in said channel and having a part which extends through and operates slidingly in a slot in the Wall of said channel and is connected to the tilting frame, a coiled compression spring disposed in said channel and acting against said plug, a cap plate fastened to said base frame and closing the adjacent end of said channel outwardly of said plug whereby to form a stop for limiting outward movement of the plug and thereby angular movement of the tilting frame, and means adjacent to the opposite end of said spring for adjusting said spring and thereby its counteraction to the Weight of the tilting frame.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the spring channel and the spring therein are disposed diagonally of said base frame with their upper portions curved upwardly to the top of said frame.

4, A leg structure for a'punch press having a spring channel as an integral part thereof, a plug slidabl in said channel and having a part which extends through and operates slidingly in a slot in the wall of said channel for connection with a tilting frame, a coiled compression spring disposed in said channel and acting against said plug, and a cap plate fastened to said leg structure and closing the adjacent end of said channel outwardly of said plug whereby to form a stop for limiting outward movement of the plug.

5. A leg structure according to claim 4 wherein the spring channel and the spring therein are disposed diagonally of the leg structure with their upper portions curved upwardly to the top of said lee structure.

6. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a main base frame, a tilting frame pivoted on said base frame for inclining movement to difierent angular positions, a spring channel in said base frame, a plug slidable in said channel, a coiled compression spring disposed within said channel and acting against said plug, and means-connecting said plug to said tilting frame whereby the action of said spring against said plug counteracts the Weight of said tilting frame, the spring channel having a curved portion concentric with the pivot between the tilting frame and the base frame.

7. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a main upright base frame having arouate slot means, a tilting frame having normally upright position and pivoted to the base frame for swinging movement about a generally horizontal axis to different angular positions, threaded pin means on the tilting frame extending through the arcuate slot means on the base frame and movable in said slot means with swinging movement of said tilting frame, nut means screwed on said threaded pin means and adapted, when tightened, to lock the tilting frame in any angular position to which it may be tilted, and balancing means disposed diagonally of said base frame with the upper portion thereof curved toward cooperation with said tilting frame for balancing the entire weight of said tilting frame whereby when said nut means is released said tilting frame may be tilted from its normally up- 6 right position to different tilted positions by exerting just enough force to overcome the action of said balancing means.

KENNETH E. REESE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

